Anybody enjoying the quarantine?

[Eternal Sunshine]

I feel really calm and at peace. I go for a daily run, hang out with my animals, do some work, read, watch movies. I spent ages assembling furniture and decorating my home office. I also picked up a new hobby, learning how to trade in the stock market to take advantage of current high variability. I am never bored.

I am releived that nobody is organizing any social events. I usually push myself to go during "normal times" because it's "not good" for someone to spend a lot of time alone. Now I don't need to do that!

Even my family is staying away because they think I had coronavirus when I had a flu 2 weeks back and am somehow still infectious. I was never tested but am 99% sure that it was just a regular flu.

I am now fully realizing to what extent I find being around other people draining.

[littleblackheart]

4 weeks in, we've gotten used to it. I can't say I'm 'enjoying' it because so many people are affected by this situation on so many different levels. But I've made a conscious effort to focus on the things I can control. It's not that bad, in the scheme of things. Being healthy and safe is all that matters right now, as well as trying to keep everyone around you as safe as possible.

Edited April 2, 2020 by littleblackheart

[FMW]

Hell no.  But I'm dealing with it because I have no other choice 

[Gaeta]

I am doing good. So far I really like working from home. Maybe in 3 months I'll be fed up with it, will see. I feel previlege to be working still and not have to deal with lost revenue. Working with my old dog laying at my feet is gift. 

[lana-banana]

As an introvert I'm personally doing quite well, but "enjoying" is not really a word I would use in a situation where thousands are dead and friends and neighbors are facing unemployment, eviction, and worse. 

[Miss Spider]

I understand how you feel, but personally I am not enjoying social distancing measures. I already spent my free time alone.  At best, my life is the same/similar. At worst, it’s limited aspects of my life like dating, being able to get the kind of bread I want, going shopping in actual stores, live music etc etc. I like having the option to go out and be around people even if I don’t use it 

[simpycurious]

58 minutes ago, lana-banana said:

As an introvert I'm personally doing quite well, but "enjoying" is not really a word I would use in a situation where thousands are dead and friends and neighbors are facing unemployment, eviction, and worse. 

I am an extrovert and not seeing people doing normal stuff is WEIRD.  My life is not one that is stationary so I am not quarantined per say.  I love the sunshine and outdoors

too much to stay inside all the time.  I like to see new things, go new places and generally enjoy people and engaging with them.  Many of my  friends are full speed ahead aside from 

the common inconveniences that everyone is experiencing.  

[lana-banana]

We are both food nerds and one of our absolute favorite things to do is go to farmers' markets on weekends, stroll around hand-in-hand and brainstorm our meals for the days and week ahead. It's maybe my nost cherished routine of the spring and summer, and missing it this year makes my heart break. Am I okay? Yes, but what I wouldn't give to be walking around in the sunshine and picking up bunches of ramps and stinging nettles.

Edited April 2, 2020 by lana-banana

[Ruby Slippers]

Oh yeah. My own enjoyment of life has gone way up. I also only enjoy socializing with a select few special people, am mostly drained by the small talk level stuff.

On Monday I start a new job that pays almost double, and I just got word they'll be onboarding me from home, which is perfect. I am so loving the extra time for all the little things - keeping the house in order, doing little projects like making my bedroom curtains and cooking, attending to my plants, flowers, and yard, yoga and workouts. 

Of course I'm sorry for all the suffering this is causing people. I'm very aware of how lucky I am, to remain employed/paid throughout, even to get a new job and raise. This has been in the works for months, just happened to become official recently. 

[dangerous]

1 hour ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Oh yeah. My own enjoyment of life has gone way up. I also only enjoy socializing with a select few special people, am mostly drained by the small talk level stuff.

On Monday I start a new job that pays almost double, and I just got word they'll be onboarding me from home, which is perfect. I am so loving the extra time for all the little things - keeping the house in order, doing little projects like making my bedroom curtains and cooking, attending to my plants, flowers, and yard, yoga and workouts. 

Of course I'm sorry for all the suffering this is causing people. I'm very aware of how lucky I am, to remain employed/paid throughout, even to get a new job and raise. This has been in the works for months, just happened to become official recently. 

Wow, what line of work are you in, that is still hiring in this time?

[SummerDreams]

I may sound mean but, as the most introverted person you all are probably going to meet in your life, this quarantine is kind of a retribution for me against extroverts who have given me s@# all these years when they were told I don't particularly like going out, I prefer to stay at home and read books or play videogames, I am not unhappy at home, I don't like travelling etc. I feel that these people have the worst time being locked in a house while I don't mind it at all. Sure I would like to know that all people in Earth are going to be safe, nobody is going to die and we will be over with it sooner rather than later. But I'm kind of taking my "revenge" to extroverts who are really losing it these days.

[Ellener]

@Eternal Sunshine I think 'enjoy' is a bit strong, but you are right- solitude is essential for wellbeing! 

'Sit with yourself' and 'self soothe' were phrases very popular working with addicts and co-dependents a few years ago, because some really would choose any situation over the panic feeling and perceived fear of being alone.

 

[Ruby Slippers]

1 hour ago, dangerous said:

Wow, what line of work are you in, that is still hiring in this time?

I'd rather not get specific, for anonymity, but suffice it to say it's mostly brain work on the computer. I always get more done at home without all the time-wasting distractions of the office - idle chit chat, noise of the open office, pointless meetings that drag on. My dad said maybe this will become a long-term arrangement. I hope so. I would be in heaven!

[Ellener]

1 hour ago, Ruby Slippers said:

My dad said maybe this will become a long-term arrangement.

my son said that, once people realise so many jobs can be done well remotely now it will change the nature of work for lots of people.

[RecentChange]

I haven't minded the self quarantine at all. I too am an introvert at heart, so I am well suited to it.

Most people think that I am an extrovert, because I can be a social butterfly at gatherings, but all and all I am more than content with lots of alone time.

Instead of the office, I am working from home - but I spent most of my time with my door closed and working quietly by myself (or on conference calls) when I did go to the office so it doesn't feel like much of a change. 

I am lucky in that I still get to head up the hill to the ranch to take care of and ride my horse each day, so it's not like I am cooped up 24/7 (and it's spring, and so incredibly beautiful out in the hills right now).

My husband is a total extrovert and struggling a bit more - him and his buddies chat on zoom etc - while I am content with a book or a podcast. 

Right now only changes are grocery store every 10 days or so rather than every other day. Making lunch at home rather than grabbing something out. And no commute or traffic. 

[RecentChange]

20 minutes ago, Ellener said:

my son said that, once people realise so many jobs can be done well remotely now it will change the nature of work for lots of people.

That is the word on the streets. I work in commercial real estate, and those who own or invest in large office buildings are nervous that this will be a long term trend.

For instance I have two offices, one in the financial district of SF, and one in silicon valley (as it's closer to my house). I am planning to tell my employer to give up the SV office and I will work from home the days I used to use that one, and SF the other days. 

[Ruby Slippers]

Yes, I think this will be a positive change for white collar computer workers.

Many business owners are rethinking whether they need to be spending all this money on office space when so many people can get just as much done if not more from home. 

Many of us are not going to want to go back to the last-century model of wasting many hours of our time commuting to put our butt in that specific chair every day. The best employers will wise up and make remote work flexibility a more prominent and important perk to attract the best talent.

Long overdue!

[simpycurious]

12 minutes ago, RecentChange said:

That is the word on the streets. I work in commercial real estate, and those who own or invest in large office buildings are nervous that this will be a long term trend.

For instance I have two offices, one in the financial district of SF, and one in silicon valley (as it's closer to my house). I am planning to tell my employer to give up the SV office and I will work from home the days I used to use that one, and SF the other days. 

RC, it is happening and actually has been to a much lesser extent.  I won't bore you with all the factors/reasons but it applies to retail centers as well.  I have tried for 4 and 1/2 hours to ditch my phone and enjoy the weather but it has been one call after another.  This is a very complicated business environment for many especially highly diversified ones.  Hey, the bright side is you can scale back the work attire

[Woggle]

I can't think of anybody else I would rather hunker down with in a pandemic but it is not a good thing. I don't enjoy death, misery and watching society fall apart and we miss going out.

[Foxhall]

the poster KK described the notion of "freedom" beautifully on another thread,

In view of that, from a selfish point of view I certainly do not like this quarantine, because it is basically an affront to my freedom,

I suppose on a positive note, one thing I am enjoying is my food.more time for cooking and eating healthy which is pleasing me.

[dangerous]

1 hour ago, Ruby Slippers said:

Yes, I think this will be a positive change for white collar computer workers.

Many business owners are rethinking whether they need to be spending all this money on office space when so many people can get just as much done if not more from home. 

Many of us are not going to want to go back to the last-century model of wasting many hours of our time commuting to put our butt in that specific chair every day. The best employers will wise up and make remote work flexibility a more prominent and important perk to attract the best talent.

Long overdue!

I wouldn't count on it. This was the exact thinking when fax, home computers, mobile phones all took off. The paperless office, remember that? A LOOOONG time coming...

And also, never say never. After every major recession, eg 2008 banking crisis, stock market crashes etc, everyone says, "we will learn". we don't human nature, we have short memories, desire/ greed etc. Everything goes in cycles. Yes there will be a delay and lots of rhetoric but while there will be some changes, the majority will go back to previous ways of working. Most workers do NOT work well at home, and employers want CONTROL.

[Miss Spider]

6 hours ago, simpycurious said:

I am an extrovert and not seeing people doing normal stuff is WEIRD.  My life is not one that is stationary so I am not quarantined per say.  I love the sunshine and outdoors

too much to stay inside all the time.  I like to see new things, go new places and generally enjoy people and engaging with them.  Many of my  friends are full speed ahead aside from 

the common inconveniences that everyone is experiencing.  

I feel for extroverts during this time and introverts even that feel too isolated rn.. I volunteer at a suicide/depression support  site and activity has gone up a lot. 

Edited April 2, 2020 by Cookiesandough

[RecentChange]

9 minutes ago, dangerous said:

I wouldn't count on it. This was the exact thinking when fax, home computers, mobile phones all took off. The paperless office, remember that? A LOOOONG time coming...

It has been a long time coming, but in my industry there are more people working from home every year, and we are moving closer and closer to paperless. 10 years ago my office was stacked sky high with paper files. These days I could fit an entire years worth of documents in a two file boxes - and I work in a field where wet signatures are still required on documents.

Generally what I am seeing in my field, is the higher up the food chain you climb, and as along as you are not directly managing others, the more freedom one has to work from home. 

[Foxhall]

15 minutes ago, dangerous said:

 Most workers do NOT work well at home, and employers want CONTROL.

this is human nature in a nutshell really!

Id also like more of a trend towards what Ruby slippers is suggesting but in reality that will not be easy.

[The Outlaw]

I'm a vendor and we're essential workers so no quarantine for me. Our stay at home order goes into effect tomorrow for two and a half weeks.